Mark Blackburn

It's a live performance, her first moments with a mic in that "full of brass" setting. Prediction. Ashley Orlando will be at her best in a studio recording of this gem. With a Neumann mic like Frank and Tony always required. I'm just so prejudiced in favor of modern covers of this gem -- best song written in 1939, which is saying something! Deepest thanks for sharing The Kingwood Big Band. https://www.facebook.com/mark.blackburn.3910/

Siriusly Sinatra satellite radio is playing my favorite Don Costa arrangement of Cole Porter's Night and Day – from the SINATRA & STRINGS album (1961) for Frank's then- brand new 'Reprise' record label. Nancy Sinatra recalled a moment backstage, sitting in Don's lap, watching her Dad perform another song from the same album, in concert with a large stringed orchestra -- Harold Arlen & Johnny Mercer's (My Momma done tol' me) BLUES IN THE NIGHT. “My best chart,” Don told Nancy. I'd say “tied for first place” on an album chock full of 'favorites'. Sinatra recorded Night and Day on four previous occasions, but had never included the “beat, beat, beat of the tom tom,” opening verse. Each time I hear it, and the closing orchestral flourish approaching its crescendo, and Sinatra unleashing the full power of his voice (at its peak in the early '60s) I get goosebumps. Every time! You too?

A lot of musicians including James Taylor and Mr. Diana Krall Elvis Costello will tell you their favorite Paul McCartney Beatles song is PENNY LANE. I concur. You too? Just Googled to be reminded that “The piccolo trumpet is the smallest member of the trumpet family, pitched one octave higher than the standard B♭ trumpet. Most piccolo trumpets are built ... ” Permit a personal recollection, please. The winter of 1967 my Dad was in London England trying to get a play produced. In our hometown of Ottawa Canada his comedy “A Button Missing” starring Rich Little, broke “50 years of box office records” and with friends as 'backers' putting up 20 or 25 thousand dollars (an immense sum in those days) Dad was off to London's West End. He quickly succeeded in lining up “The Third Man” on TV, Michael Rennie to play the lead role of “Drinkwater” an inventor trying to patent an artificial woman. But then Dad also had to find a director too. He did: I forget the name but he'd directed a comedy about the love life of flight attendants “Boeing, Boeing” and he told Dad that A Button Missing was “much funnier” and predicted it would be a hit. But days turned into weeks and Dad had to return home empty-handed. A measure of his integrity: he found ways to return ALL his backers' money. I remember this because he brought me back one gift from London: The Beatles' latest hit – PENNY LANE. The 45-rpm “Parlophone” (no big hole in the middle – an attractive, factory-made insert instead). The only-in-England version featured a seven-note closing flourish by the cornet player. You never got to hear that in North America. Just checked for the latest “remastered” version at YouTube and sure enough, it's the “American/Canadian” version, whose final seven seconds consists of 'feedback' – a single note from guitar or synth (or both). Pretty, but not nearly as nice. 12,424,502 'views' for this official version "re-mastered in 2015." Thanks for sharing.

Google for “Who has coverered A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square? To learn it was "Written in 1939 with words by Eric Maschwitz and music by Manning Sherwin, this romantic ballad was quickly established as a standard of the lounge repertoire, and has been recorded by Vera Lynn, Nat King Cole, Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Harry Connick Jr., Mel Torme, and Rod Stewart among many others." It won a Grammy for Manhattan Transfer, whose version is playing right now on Siriusly Sinatra. Their vocal arrangement by Gene Puerling who founded the Hi-Lo's and Singers Unlimited.

SINATRA -- Night and Day It's 1:24 I'm unable to snore . . . and Siriusly Sinatra satellite radio is playing my favorite Don Costa arrangement of Cole Porter's “Night and Day” – from the SINATRA & STRINGS album (1961) for Frank's then- brand new 'Reprise' record label. Nancy Sinatra recalled a moment backstage – sitting in Don's lap -- watching her Dad perform another song from the same album -- in concert with a large stringed orchestra -- Harold Arlen & Johnny Mercer's (My Momma done tol' me) BLUES IN THE NIGHT. “My best chart,” Don told Nancy. I'd say “tied for first place” on an album chock full of 'favorites'. Sinatra recorded Night and Day on four previous occasions, but had never included the “beat, beat, beat of the tom tom,” opening verse. Each time I hear it, and the closing orchestral flourish approaching its crescendo, and Sinatra unleashing the full power of his voice (at its peak in the early '60s) I get goosebumps. Every time! You too?

Playing right now (3:00 a.m.) on Siriusly Sinatra -- maybe my favorite song by Harry Connick Jr. “Well you can't have a dream and 'cut it to fit' but when I saw you – I knew: we'd be together, like a wink and a smile!” I guess it's like a song my musical father could have written. That's certainly his style of 'stride piano.' One of those songs that make you … well, wink and smile!

The amazing thing to know is that Doyle Dykes not only delivers surely the best version in the history of CLASSICAL GAS, but knowing he could go on with variations, forever and a day. And not repeat himself. When he performed at a music store here in Winnipeg Canada November 2018 he was scheduled to play (for an audience that included 50 guitarists) for 90 minutes; he captivated us for three hours! He must have made a mistake. But I didn't catch it. Imagine, virtuosity of that magnitude. Someday he'll be old and grey(er) and unable to do this anymore. Until then, we have the present moment, Hallelujah!

I have FACEBOOK itself (not just Siriusly Sinatra and YouTube) to thank “for the memories.” A Facebook feature I love: When it suddenly shares with me something I wrote “4 years ago.” Something preserved nowhere else. This, for instance a moment ago: I'd forgotten transcribing James Taylor's words from a 'live-stream' BBC 'playing favorites' type of show, “March 8, 2020.” An appreciation the Lady would surely have cherished, if only she'd tuned in that night! [I wrote then:] ”Imagine my delight tonight, hearing James Taylor singling out Lady Gaga and her version of (Cole Porter's) 'Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye' from her album of duets with the world's greatest living singer Tony Bennett. Goosebumps a moment ago hearing James say, by way of introduction: “Lovely! We thought of Lady Gaga as almost a 'performance artist' [first] and as a musician second; this album proved her to have extremely deep roots, and to be able to turn her hand to almost any kind of music. She is a beautiful singer with an amazing ear.” – James Taylor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUm41zP63lo https://www.facebook.com/mark.blackburn.3910/

It's as if he knows I'll be up at this hour: Jersey Lou' Simon, programmer extraordinaire at Siriusly Sinatra. It's 4 in the morning and naturally I just had to “check and see what he's playing – just for me!” Sure enough. Every single track is one I've celebrated here; most recently (and right this minute) Carly's “I Get Along Without You Very Well.” Carly followed my favorite song by Louis Armstrong recorded with the Oscar Peterson Trio in long ago 1957 – quite simply the most swinging version ever of BLUES IN THE NIGHT. Had to open Ted Gioia's recent (2021) masterwork THE JAZZ STANDARDS (p. 51) and read for the first time what he had to say. No one ever said it better, Mr. Gioa. Just to quote your opening and closing words: “BLUES IN THE NIGHT – composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer “Many popular songs with blues in the title are charlatans. They steer clear of the 12-bar blues form and dress up wistful lyrics with Tin Pan Alley trappings never heard in a Mississippi Delta 'juke joint' . . . [closing with:] “By the way, my favorite moment in the history of this song happened in 1942 when folk song researcher Alan Lomax traveled to the Mississippi Delta to preserve the REAL blues as sung by the people who created the music. There, in a ramshackle cabin, he recorded Muddy Waters whose repertoire included Arlen & Mercer's hit song BLUES IN THE NIGHT. Recommended Versions Louis Armstrong and Oscar Peterson recorded in Hollywood October 14, 1957 Thank you Ted Gioia – and Jersey Lou too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzlrftoLIgY

Isn't it a Pity – there's a song by George Harrison of that name. Add the word “Gershwin” to Google, and be reminded that this, a favorite lyric by George's brother Ira, was from a 1930s Broadway show. Playing at this moment on Sirius radio, my “new favorite version” (not least for the lush and lovely symphonic arrangement) by Barbra Streisand. ”It's such a pity, we never met before!” As I listened to this a moment ago, I pictured a beach in Bermuda at sunset – and just now went to YouTube for the first offering this day – the one with the “most views.” Lo and behold! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7YaF7h_jE0

As you get older, do you find you're experiencing 'coincidences' – more frequently than you ever did before? Carl Jung called it “synchronicity” – when the coincidences come in clusters. Twice this night: Someone connected to that “in the pink” song – turns out that today (4/19/2024) would have been their “100th birthday.” I'm thinking What's next? I awake at the stroke of 5 a.m. I'm thinking of my favorite line of sacred scripture: “Imitate me, for I am gentle and humble of heart.” And thinking, Why only two things? We like things in three (Faith Hope Charity) Why no third thing required of us? Then it dawns on me: We have only two spiritual enemies. Anger and Pride. “A gentle answer turneth away wrath.” If you're gentle – gentle tone of voice, gentle demeanor toward others – you cannot simultaneously be angry. So too, Pride can't co-exist within a heart that's trying to be humble, at every turn. Okay, I turn on my computer and it's my new favorite form of video – birds-eye views of some of the world's most beautiful scenery, never experienced before drones! And the quote on the screen is this: “Matthew 11:39 – Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For I am gentle and lowly of heart and you will find rest for your souls.

GUY LOMBARDO & HIS ROYAL CANADIANS -- Enjoy Yourself I'd just been thinking, amid the aches and pains of old age, about 'the days of wine and roses' – back when we were all “In the Pink.” You need to be nearing 80 yourself to recall the words of a song our parents sang in 1950, with the memorable refrain … Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think! Enjoy yourself, while you're still 'in the pink' The years go by, as quickly as a wink . . . Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself! It's later than you think. Google to be reminded that in the 16th century “pink” meant “the embodiment of perfection.” The “current idiom dates to the year 1900.” And the song? “Enjoy Yourself” by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians. Six witty stanzas. Listen to at least the first two, with their images of vacations and cruises while “you're still in the pink.” Oh yes, the singer: a member of Guy's family as well as his vocalist, Kenny Gardner. Born March 20 1913, Lake View Iowa Died July 26, 2002 (age 89 years) Manhasset, New York. Spouse: Elaine Lombardo (m. 1940-1999) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9VvuoqQdWc

When simple words are music to our ears . . . Michael's essay. Remember your favorite moment in THE BLIND SIDE? When Michael has his epiphany, after his new “Dad” quotes from memory the climax of 'The Charge of the Light Brigade': “Into the valley of death, rode the 600 . . . Theirs, not to reason why – Theirs, but to 'do-or-die'.” Inspired by his Dad's football analogy, “when the coach messes up,” Mike sits down to compose his thoughtful response – writing with an 'artless' style and a lyrical (not to say musical) beauty that rings true. ---- Permit an aside: After determining that I'd never seen The Blind Side, my sister in Toronto sent me both Blu-ray and 'Made in Mexico' DVD versions for my birthday last month. "You will love it," she said, and then "When are you going to watch it?" Poised to transcribe (I type fast) I realized that this 'best scene' must be the favorite of millions – and is already posted at YouTube, right? Sure enough. Four minutes of movie magic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVbSQpoFDb0

MONALISA TWINS – Baby You Can Drive My Car Paul McCartney 4Fans just sent me a link and a thumbs up for something I posted "2 years ago." Just when I was in the mood to hear some talented girls impersonating Paul and John. [I wrote:] "Ever wonder if Paul enjoys Beatles 'covers'? Had that thought again while watching these talented girls with their "two year residency at The Cavern." [left them an appreciative note:] Back in the 60's when all of us it seems were in bands and doing Beatles covers (mine was 'The Suspects' – of Ottawa Canada – you may not have heard of us) I recall how difficult it was to do a good impression of The Fab Four on a song popular with audiences -- like 'Baby You Can Drive My Car.' An American guitarist friend (we trade Chet Atkins anecdotes) just shared this. (Thanks, Bob P.) Talented singer/musicians – the “MonaLisa Twins” – girls and boys having fun at 'The Cavern' in Liverpool, circa Summer of '21.

An Evening With Joe Pass – 1994 I've been waiting my entire adult life for this. You don't have to be a guitarist to love this. Joe's mother would have loved every minute of it! In an interview at the 13:38 mark, when asked What are you going to play tonight? – the disarming response: “I can't tell ya!” Meaning it would spoil the fun if Joe didn't decide on-the-spot, 'what's next?' “I played with Oscar for ten years,” said Joe, “and we never once rehearsed!” Too many highlights – so many questions answered: His guitar resembles a Gibson 175 which Joe Pass played until Ibanez made him a signature model to rival George Benson's. “Gibson asked me what I wanted . . . a thinner body than a 175, just the one pickup, and the neck is slimmer . . . “ Do yourself a favor, and set aside some time to watch this. I guarantee you will love, or … double your money back. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSeJSWwEyoE Correction: It was Epiphone - Joe Pass signature model. I played one, on two occasions. Very fine. They held their value. This one used at Ebay today for $1,487.62 U.S. dollars plus $80 shipping (from Japan). So 2K Canadian. In case any loved ones are tuning in.